Compassion & Pausing

I was on the verge of emailing someone assertively and giving them a piece of my mind (not that I can spare any pieces, but, anyway). Something made me pause.

Rather unexpectedly, I met with the person in question and we had an unexpected conversation where I heard something of the pain they were experiencing. Gosh, am I glad I paused earlier in the day, not least because I was not adding to this person’s suffering, and, in fact, being able to help.

“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause”

Mark Twain

Stricking that balance between pausing and action, between silence and speech, is tricky terrain in conscious living. In this instance (and more), that pause allowed a space for compassion.